Case assembly including a traveling case and a knapsack

ABSTRACT

A case assembly includes a traveling case, a knapsack, and a set of coupling units for coupling removably the knapsack to the traveling case. The traveling case includes first and second casing parts that are coupled to each other. The knapsack includes a bag body and at least one shoulder strap connected to the bag body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a case assembly, more particularly to a case assembly that includes a traveling case and a knapsack.

2. Description of the Related Art

People who travel by air usually take with them a traveling case for storing clothes, and a knapsack for storing smaller personal belongings. Traveling cases are generally checked-in, while knapsacks are brought by passengers into the airplane and are subsequently placed under passenger seats or in overhead compartments. It is noted that in instances where the flight time is short, passengers rarely open their knapsacks to retrieve items therein. In addition to the burden of carrying their knapsacks, some passengers might even forget to take their knapsacks with them when leaving the airplane. Moreover, some people find it inconvenient to carry a knapsack while towing a traveling case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide a case assembly that includes a traveling case and a knapsack coupled removably to the traveling case so as to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.

Accordingly, a case assembly of this invention includes a traveling case, a knapsack, and a set of coupling units for coupling removably the knapsack to the traveling case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a case assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the preferred embodiment, taken along line III-III in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view to illustrate a knapsack of the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view to illustrate a coupling unit of the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the preferred embodiment of a case assembly according to the present invention is shown to comprise a traveling case 1, a knapsack 2, and a set of coupling units 3 for coupling removably the knapsack 2 to the traveling case 1.

The traveling case 1 includes first and second casing parts 11, 12 that are coupled to each other and that cooperate to confine a space for storing articles therein. Wheels 13 are mounted on a bottom part of the second casing part 12. The second casing part 12 is further provided with a conventional retractable handle unit 14 and a pair of handles 15. The first casing part 11 includes a base wall 111 and a peripheral wall 112 extending transversely from a periphery of the base wall 111 toward the second casing part 12. The first casing part 11 has an outer wall surface formed with a set of recesses 113 (there are four recesses 113 in this embodiment), each of which is disposed at a respective corner of the base wall 111 and spans a junction of the base wall 111 and the peripheral wall 112.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the knapsack 2 includes a bag body 21 and at least one shoulder strap 24 connected to the bag body 21. In this embodiment, there are two shoulder straps 24. The bag body 21 has a first (rear) bag part 211 that is formed with an elongate opening 214, a second (front) bag part 212 that is coupled to a periphery of the first bag part 211 and that cooperates with the first bag part 211 to confine a space for receiving articles therein, and a plurality of pockets 213 provided on an outer side of the second bag part 212. The knapsack 2 further includes a zipper 22 provided on the first bag part 211 for closing the opening 214, and a pair of engaging rings 23 mounted respectively on lower corners of the first bag part 211 and disposed externally of the bag body 21. Each shoulder strap 24 has a fixed end 241 that extends into the bag body 21 via the opening 214 and that is coupled fixedly to the bag body 21, and a distal end 243 opposite to the fixed end 241 and provided with an engaging hook 242 that is capable of releasable engagement with a corresponding one of the engaging rings 23.

When the engaging hooks 242 are disengaged from the engaging rings 23, the shoulder straps 24 can be stored in the bag body 21, and the zipper 22 can be operated to close the opening 214, as best shown in FIG. 2. Accordingly, when it is desired to carry the knapsack 2, the shoulder straps 24 are extended out of the bag body 21, and the engaging hooks 242 are operated to engage the engaging rings 23, as best shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the coupling units 3 couple removably the knapsack 2 to the first casing part 11 of the traveling case 1. In this embodiment, there are four coupling units 3 that couple removably four corners of the knapsack 2 to the first casing part 11. Each coupling unit 3 includes a coupling base 31 mounted on the first casing part 11 and formed with an engaging hole 314, and a coupling member 32 provided on the knapsack 2 and having an engaging stud 322 for engaging removably the engaging hole 314 in the coupling base 31. The coupling base 31 of each coupling unit 3 includes a bottom wall 312 disposed in a respective one of the recesses 113 and formed with the engaging hole 314, a peripheral wall 313 extending transversely from a periphery of the bottom wall 312, and a marginal wall 311 extending in radial outward directions from one end of the peripheral wall 313 opposite to the bottom wall 312. Preferably, the marginal wall 311 has a curved contour matching that of the first casing part 11 so as to be able to lie flat against the outer wall surface of the first casing part 11. Each engaging hole 314 includes a large-hole portion 315 and a small-hole portion 316 in spatial communication with the large-hole portion 315. The engaging stud 322 of each coupling member 32 projects from a respective base wall 321, which has a contour matching that of the marginal wall 311 and which is coupled to the bag body 21 of the knapsack 2. The engaging stud 322 includes a post portion 323 that is extendible into the small-hole portion 316 of the corresponding engaging hole 314, and a head portion 324 that is disposed at one end of the post portion 323 and that has a size larger than that of the small-hole portion 315 but smaller than that of the large-hole portion 315 of the corresponding engaging hole 314.

To connect the knapsack 2 to the traveling case 1, the head portions 324 of the engaging studs 322 of the engaging members 32 are simply extended through the large-hole portions 315 of the engaging holes 314, and the engaging studs 322 are subsequently moved to extend the post portions 323 into the small-hole portions 316 of the engaging holes 314. On the other hand, to remove the knapsack 2 from the traveling case 1, the engaging studs 322 are simply operated to move the post portions 323 into the large-hole portions 315 of the engaging holes 314 to permit removal of the engaging studs 322 from the engaging holes 314. Upon removal of the knapsack 2 from the traveling case 1, the shoulder straps 24 can be extended out of the bag body 21 and connected to the engaging rings 23 through the engaging hooks 242.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A case assembly, comprising: a traveling case; a knapsack; and a set of coupling units for coupling removably said knapsack to said traveling case.
 2. The case assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said traveling case includes first and second casing parts that are coupled to each other, said coupling units coupling removably said knapsack to said first casing part of said traveling case.
 3. The case assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said coupling units includes: a coupling base mounted on said first casing part and formed with an engaging hole; and a coupling member provided on said knapsack and having an engaging stud for engaging removably said engaging hole in said coupling base.
 4. The case assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said engaging hole includes a large-hole portion and a small-hole portion in spatial communication with said large-hole portion, said engaging stud of said coupling member including a post portion that is extendible into said small-hole portion, and a head portion that is disposed at one end of said post portion and that has a size larger than that of said small-hole portion but smaller than that of said large-hole portion.
 5. The case assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said knapsack includes a bag body and at least one shoulder strap connected to said bag body.
 6. The case assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said bag body has a first bag part formed with an opening, said knapsack further including a zipper provided on said first bag part for closing said opening, and an engaging ring mounted on said first bag part and disposed externally of said bag body, said shoulder strap having a fixed end that extends into said bag body via said opening and that is coupled fixedly to said bag body, and a distal end opposite to said fixed end and provided with an engaging hook that is capable of releasable engagement with said engaging ring.
 7. The case assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said bag body further has a second bag part coupled to said first-bag part, and at least one pocket provided on said second bag part.
 8. The case assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first casing part has an outer wall surface formed with a set of recesses, said coupling base of each of said coupling units including a bottom wall disposed in a respective one of said recesses and formed with said engaging hole, a peripheral wall extending transversely from a periphery of said bottom wall, and a marginal wall extending radially and outwardly from one end of said peripheral wall opposite to said bottom wall and abutting against said outer wall surface of said first casing part. 